By Adam Cooper

11 September 2018 — 3:28pm

Time in custody awaits two young men who blinded a man in one eye at a Brunswick nightclub because they didn't like his hairstyle.

County Court judge Christopher Ryan on Tuesday told Bradley Elmore-Jeffries, 22, and Brent Moresco, 20, both from Wonthaggi, that he would impose custodial terms when he sentenced them next week for assaulting Elliot Harvey at Rubix Warehouse on May 27 last year.

Brent Moresco (left) leaves the County Court on Tuesday.

Photo: AAP

Mr Harvey told media last year the men punched him and knocked him to the ground because they took offence at his man-bun.

The court heard this year that a confrontation began outside the club when Moresco and Elmore-Jeffries called a skateboarder Mr Harvey knew a "faggot" and that Mr Harvey told the pair: "Don't be a dick." During a fight inside, Mr Harvey was headbutted, punched and spat on.

His nose was fractured in two places and the retina of his right eye became detached and despite surgeries, he lost sight in that eye.

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Elmore-Jeffries and Moresco both wore their hair pulled back in buns when pair returned to court on Tuesday, and Judge Ryan ruled they would spend stints in custody after both pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury.

Elmore-Jeffries mouthed "I love you" to a young woman as he was led into custody, while Moresco was released on bail but will serve time in a youth detention centre.

He was granted bail because remanding him would mean he would serve time in an adult jail.

Elmore-Jeffries must appear before a magistrate later this year charged with another assault at a Gippsland hotel which allegedly occurred in the months after he bashed Mr Harvey.

Defence counsel Richard Backwell said Elmore-Jeffries suffers depression and personality difficulties and there was a connection between him drinking alcohol and becoming violent.

"That means when he's on the grog he's a dangerous young man," Judge Ryan summarised.

Bradley Elmore-Jeffries.

Photo: Joe Armao

He said there was no joy in sentencing young men to prison but deterring others was necessary.

"The publicity that has been in the public domain for years prompted by one-punch manslaughters outside licensed premises and the catastrophic circumstances that flow from young men getting drunk and violent is well understood in our community and calls for general deterrence," he said.

Mr Backwell asked that Elmore-Jeffries be granted bail so he could inform his boss he would be jailed, and pack his belongings as his family was considering moving interstate.

But Judge Ryan refused.

Elliot Harvey, left, with photographs of the damage done to his face in the attack.

Photo: Emily Woods

"The matters of getting his life in order are matters I would expect his family to do," he said.

Moresco was warned an arrest warrant would be issued if he failed to attend court on September 20 for sentencing.